Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has announced a $50 million commitment in 2026 to assist customers with overdue energy bills through its Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) and Match My Payment programs.
This year, PG&E is increasing the maximum benefit available through the REACH program. Customers who have received a disconnection notice may now qualify for up to an $800 bill credit, compared to last year’s cap of $300. The Match My Payment program continues to match eligible customer payments dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000, provided that payments are at least $50 toward a past-due balance of $100 or more. Unlike REACH, a disconnection notice is not required for this program.
Customers who receive REACH assistance are also prequalified for up to $1,000 in additional support through Match My Payment, allowing for a combined total benefit of up to $1,800 while funds remain available. Eligibility for both programs is determined by federal income guidelines. For instance, families of four earning less than $128,600 may be eligible for the Match My Payment program, which has higher income limits than REACH.
In 2025, these two programs provided about $23 million in aid to over 64,000 customers.
“We receive heartfelt messages from our customers every day about how much these programs mean to them. These stories remind us of the real impact our programs have on the lives of our customers, and we are committed to continuing to make a difference,” said Vincent Davis, Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President, Customer Experience.
Both initiatives are funded by PG&E and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The company works with Dollar Energy Fund (DEF), a nonprofit organization that processes customer applications.
The new funding follows PG&E’s recent move to reduce residential electric rates by 5% as of January 1, 2026. This marks the fourth rate decrease in two years. As a result, residential electric rates are now 11% lower than they were in January 2024—equivalent to approximately $20 less per month on an average bill.
PG&E also offers other assistance options for income-eligible customers such as Medical Baseline—which provides reduced energy bills for those with certain medical needs—and encourages customers to explore ways to save energy and lower their monthly expenses by visiting pge.com/billhelp.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company serves more than sixteen million people across Northern and Central California. More information can be found at pge.com and pge.com/news.
